The centrality of the notion of social identity to current work on language learning reflects a renewed theoretical and political concern for the social dimension of language learning. Discusses the ways in which current work in this area involves conflicting points of view or misses the opportunity to connect with other relevant work. (JL)

Offers comments on an earlier article on age and second language learning, and questions the authors' of that article's interpretation of the research they reviewed. The authors of the original article respond to these comments and questions. (Author/VWL)

Examines the concept of consciousness in second-language research. After defining theoretical assumptions and reviewing a number of controversies in the psycholinguistic and second-language literature, it is argued that the terms conscious and unconscious have acquired too much surplus meaning and should be abandoned in favor of clearly defined…

Item-writing considerations in creating instruments using Likert-type scales, according to Michael Busch, include semantics of labeling response choices and number of response categories. Jean Turner discusses problems regarding the use of Likert-scale questionnaires for L2 research, for instance the cultural background of language learners being…

Documents 20 years of second-language acquisition research, highlighting two subthemes involving the alternate broadening and narrowing of research perspectives and predicting that the next phase of research will unite the historically distinct research foci on learning and the learner. (209 references) (CB)

Sample accepted findings on learners, environments, and interlanguages are proposed along with some implications for second-language acquisition theories. (79 references) (JL)

Examines the language processing and acquisition abilities of the right hemisphere. Discusses functions performed by the right hemisphere that could play an important role in second language acquisition. (EKN)

Cautions against direct application of neurolinguistic research to second language learning and teaching and discusses why brain research will not provide a quick answer to teaching problems. (EKN)

Aims to provide an overview of some of the most salient social identity research by discussing various theoretical stances and methodologies and to critique the theories and methodologies employed in social identity research. It is concluded that language and social identity is an important issue, a holistic and dynamic understanding of which will…

Kachru suggests that it is time to reevaluate the dominant paradigms in second-language acquisition research from a bilingual/multilingual perspective. Sridhar suggests a reality check in the reevaluation of second-language acquisition theories. (45 references) (JL)

The studies presented here represent an attempt to determine which of several alterations to the input directed to second-language learners affect comprehensibility. The first study manipulated both speed and syntax, and the second study examined the introduction of pauses into the input. (JL)

Discusses experimental evidence which suggests that there may be greater right hemisphere involvement in language processing in bilinguals who acquire their second language late relative to their first language and in bilinguals who learn their second language in informal contexts. (EKN)

Two researchers respond to a previous "TESOL Quarterly" article that assessed the state of the art of research and classroom applications of learning strategies, and the author of the article responds to those comments. (71 references) (JL)

Problematizes the use of the interview for research on second language acquisition and second language teaching. (Author/VWL)